Vehicle-dumping mechanism.



L. L. SPENCER.

VEHICLE DUMPING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. a. 1919.

1,299,516. Patented Apr. 8,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

ATTORNEY L. L. SPENCER.

VEHICLE DUMPING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FIYLED FEB. 8. 1919.

Patented Apr. 8,1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

FIE. F

Fii Z0 INVENTOR Z. Z. EPE'NZZEH wbma.

ATTORA/[Y citizen of the United States, and a resi- STATES PATENT oFFroE.

-l V LEWIS L. SPENCER, F PL-ANKINTON, SOUTH DAKOTA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD TO CHARLES A. EARL AND ONE-THIRD TO WILBERT M. CLAUS, BOTH OF PLANKINTON,

SOUTH DAKOTA.

Patented Apr. 8 1919.

Application filed February 8, 1919. Serial No. 275,710.

To all whom it rnay concern: a

Be it known that I, Lnwrs L. SPENCER, a

dent of Plankinton, in the county of Aurora and State of South Dakota, have certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle- Dumping Mechanismfof which the followingi-s a specification. The invention aims, primarily, to provide an improved vehicle-dumping mechanism particularly adapted for grain elevators.. L Another object of the invention is the production of improved means for dumpin vehicles while supported on a scales plat orm. The invention further contemplates an "improved mechanism adapted to dump either animal-drawn vehicles or longer vehicles, as motor-trucks.

Furthermore, the invention provides a mechanism operable to quickly dump vehicles with a minimum of power and with little efiort bythe operator.

. With these and other ob ects in view, the

invention, consisting in the construction, combmat-lon and ,novel arrangement oi parts, will. be fully understood from the vice of my wa on thereon;

following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application. and in whichhke characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, of -which,

Figure 1 1s-a plan of an elevatorrunway and scales-platform, equipped with the deig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig.3 'isa similar view, with a mo tor-' truck supported thereon;

- Fig. 4 is an'enlarged inverted perspective view of the jack-shaft guide;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical section of the scales-platform and associated parts, t

Fig."'6 is an the controlling vaive;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of the same,

aken on the line 55, of Fig...10

'takenon the line 77 of Fig. 6;

Fig. Sis an enlarged .plan' of the scalesplatform and dump-controlling mechanism;

invention and supporting a" enlarged vertical section 0 modifications may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined in the appended c aims.

Referring, now, to the illustrations, 11 is a runway, or elevated platform, such as is common in grain elevators, and provided with an inclined approach, 12, and an opening, 13, in-which floats the customary scalesplatform, 14, upon which vehicles are driven and weighed, and includin beams, 15, and i a floor, 16, supported there y.

.The scales-platform is provided with an intermediate rectangular opening, 17 in which is mounted a vertically-movable platform, including side beams, 18, having their rear ends suitably pivoted to the platform, 14, as at 19; and having'their forward portions covered by flooring, 20. The unfloored portion of the movable platform incloses a second vertically-movable platform, including side beams, 21, and flooring, 22, thereon. The said second platform is pivoted at its rear end,.asat 23, coaxially with the pivots, 19. The said vertically-movable platforms rest, normally, on cross beams, 24,, a

secured to the under side of the scaleslatform; and are" preferably operated independently of each other and by fluid-pres sure-operated means, as an upright cylinder, 25, positioned below the scales-platform, and provided at its lower end with lateral trunnions, 26, pivoted in suitable bearings, 27,.- on a base 28, whereby 'the'cylinder may be oscillated The cylinder receives fluid-pressure through a suitable passage from a source of flllld pressure, preferably a compress-air tank, 29. In the preferred embodiment the said pass'age includes an outlet pipe, 30, leading from the tank and communicating with the forwardly and rearwardly.

. lower end of the cylinder through a flexible.

duct,--31, and a suitable three-way valve, in-

, terposcd between the said pipe and, duct, and

which may. includea casing, 32, having a vertically-disposed tapered bore, 33, in.

which rotates a valve, 34, having a transverse passage, 35, adapted to register with openings, 36, inopposite sides of: the casing, one of which communicates withthe pipe, 30, and 'the other with the duct, v31. At right-angles to the openings, '36, the casing is provided withan outlet or escape passage,,.

37,;and the valve is provided with a lateral passage, 38, disposed'at'right-angles to and} communicating with the passage, 35., The valve is rotated by a stem, '39, fixed at its lower end to thevalveand-extending freely through the scales-platform floor'and a dial plate, 40, having supports, 41, mounted on the platform. The upper end-of the stem carries a lateral handegrip, 42,-,having1'an opened and closed positions-ofrthe valve. I When the valve 1s open, as shown inEig.

7, the pressure passesfromthe tank to the cylinder, and thepassage, 38, is closed by the casing wall, and when} the-valve -is 'rotated counter-cloekwise'to place the passage I v,

:valve the ressure from the tank may. be cut off and t e' pressure permitted to escape from the cylinder whereupon the raised plat- 38 in registration with the opening, 36, communicating with the-duct, 31, the valve'will close'the other opening,. 36, and one endof, the passage, 35, will register with the 50 ening, 37, to .permit escape of-pressure rom thoset-lllustrated may be employedto. .co- 100 the cylinder.

Within the cylinder reciprocates the pisa platform des1red, and Still remain w'lthln ton, 45, (Fig. 9), carrying a piston-rod, 46-, provided at its HPPBKBIidWltha short cross tion-rollers, 48,: movable forwardly and rearwardly in a suitable guide, as a' plate, '49,

' having rails, 50,; which prevent=lateral displacement of the rollers. Thesaid plate is mounted on the under side-"of therfreend In the rear of the scales-platform the runs way is provi edwith an opening, 53, normally closed a trap-door, 54. When a wagon is driven ontothe scaleseplatform, the front wheels thereof rest upon the platform,-22. Priorto dumping, the rear wheels are blocked, as at 55, (Fig. 2), and the cyl:

inder rearwardly 'inclinedto' place the friction-rollers at the rear end/of-the-guide, or- ;that part of the guide mounted on the, latform, 22, then as the piston, or jack-s aft is forced upwardly, the said platform -is lifted andithe front end of the wagon thereby raised to facilitate dumping its contents .inga' wheel-base too long lone, end,"59-, to receive the jack-shaft, .v and and fulcrumed ona suitable bearing, .62, on the said platform, s

tersPatent of theUnited-States, is,

- cured to the said platform is provided with a forward stop, 56, (Fig. 4), between which and the adjacent stop, 51, .the rollers rest when the said platform is to be raised, to prevent displacement of the rollers from the front end of the guide part.

Whena motor-truck, or other vehicle havto be accommo-, dated by the platform,22, is 'to. be dumped,

. its front wheels rest upon the platform and its rear wheels blocked, as at 55 (hig.

' 3). The cylinder is then shifted forwardly,

placing the j ack-shaft' underthe intermedi ate portion of the platform, 20, to raise the said platform and incline the truck as shown.

The jack-shaft is referabl by means of ahorizontai lever, 5 fulcrumed, as at 58 to the scales-platform,bifurcated at engaged atthe other end by. ahand-lever, 60, depending 1 below the scales-platform,

. a 9e 7, It is now evident forward and rearward movement of thehand-lever accordingly shifts .the cylinder and jack-shaft, Through the operation-of the controlling 95.

form willdrop toits normal'position; 1 Obviously, other shifting devices than operate with the jack-shaft to raise either the-scope of'my-inventionfl'" v a I, It is alsoevident the device 'Of my invention may !be applied to 'a fixedplatform in lieu of one that is movable as a' scales-plat* form.. It is also clear the device in no way interferes with'the free and accurate opere 1 ation of the scales-platform, as all parts'carportion of the platform, 22, and 'tli'funderf' therewith, w

Having thus describedm'y inventio'mwhat ried by the scales-platform are free tomove 1 I (31211111 as new and'desire to secure b Let-j 1. A vehicle dumping mechanism for rela- 1'15 tively long and short vehicles, including .a

vehicle-supporting platform, two members pivoted thereon to swin vvertically, and adapted, respectively, to ti t long and short vehicles, and actuating means under .the

front portions '0f said members andshift- .able from one to the other of said members,

whereby one ofsaid members may be aetur ated independently of the other;

2, A vehicle-dumpingmechanism for relatively long and short vehicles, comprising a member movable vertically to elevate one end of a-vehicle, a second member movable I vertically toelevate' one end of a longer vehicle, and actuatmg means adapted to be shifted to and from operative positions with respect to either member.

3. A vehicle-dumping mechanism for relatively long and short vehicles, comprising a member movable vertically to elevate one end of a vehicle, a second member movable vertically to elevate one end of a longer vehicle, and means for actuating said members including a source of fluid-pressure, a movably-mounted cylinder to receive pressure from said source, a piston within the cylinder, a rod on the piston adapted to be engaged with either of said members by movement of thecylinder, and means for moving the cylinder-and piston. I

4. A vehicle-dumping mechanism for relatively long and short vehicles comprising two individually operated vehicle tilting I tively long and short vehicles, comprising a vehicle-supporting platform, two members pivoted coaxially thereon to swing vertically and adapted, respectively, to tilt long and short vehicles, and means for actuating said members, including a tilting cylinder, a piston therein, a rod on the piston engageable with either member by tilting the cylinder, a source of fluid-pressure, a valved passage between the cylinder and said source,

andmeans controlled above the platform for opening and closing the passage.

, 7 A vehicle-dumping mechanism for relatively long and short vehicles, comprising a vehicle-supporting platform, relatively long and short members pivoted coaxially thereon to swing vertically, and, adapted, respectively, to tilt long and short vehicles, a cylinder shiftably mounted below the platform, a piston therein, a rod on the piston engageable with either of said members by shifting the cylinder, a source of fluid-pressure to supply pressure to the cylinder, and means for shifting the cylinder and piston.

8. A vehicle-dumping mechanism for relatively long and short vehicles, comprising a vehicle-supporting platform, relatively long and short members pivoted coaxially thereon to swing vertically and adapted, re-

spectively, to tilt long and short vehicles, a cylinder shiftably mounted below the platform, a piston therein, a rod on the piston, a guide-bearing of two separate parts mounted, respectively, on said members, a part on the rod engageable with the guidebearing and movable to and from either of said parts by shifting the cylinder and piston, whereby either member may be actuated, a source of fluid-pressure to supply pressure to the cylinder, and means for shifting the cylinder and piston.

9. A vehicle-dumping mechanism for relatively long and short vehicles, comprising a vehicle-supporting platform, relatively long and short members pivoted coaxially thereon to swing vertically and adapted, respectively, to tilt long and short vehicles, a cylinder shiftably mounted below the platform,

a piston therein, a rod on the piston, a guidebearing of two separate parts mounted, respectively on said members, a part on the rod engageable with the guide-bearing and movable to and from either of said parts by shifting the cylinder and piston, whereby either member may be actuated, a source of fluid-pressure to supply pressure to the cylinder, and hand-lever-operated means controlled above the platform for shifting the cylinder and piston;

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 16 day of January, 1919.

LEWIS L. SPENCER. 

